BUYER'S GUIDE: How To Choose The Right iPad

Apple has made some slight changes to its iPad lineup this week:
it
swapped out the dated iPad 2 for a newer fourth-generation
iPad that boasts a Retina Display for the same $399 price.

Although the company is still offering four tablet options, this
change could certainly affect the buying decision. Previously,
people in the market for a larger-size iPad had two options:
cough up $500 for the top-of-the-line iPad Air or purchase a
dated model that's three generations behind and $100 cheaper.
Now, Apple is offering a tablet with faster performance, a Retina
Display, and the newer Lightning dock connector for the same $399
price.

So which iPad should you buy? Here is how the models
compare.

Should I buy the iPad Air ($499) or fourth-generation
iPad ($399)?

The real question here is, how much does design matter to you?
The key difference between the iPad Air and fourth-generation
iPad is in its size, shape and weight. The iPad Air is one of the
slimmest and lightest 10-inch tablets on the market, measuring
9.4 x 6.6 x 0.4 inches and weighing 1.05 pounds.

The iPad Air, like the iPad Mini, features straighter edges that
make the tablet easier to grip. The fourth-generation iPad is a
bit heavier and chunkier than the iPad Air, measuring 9.5 x 7.31
x 0.37 inches and weighing 1.44 pounds. Its edges are softer and
more rounded than those of the iPad Air. The iPad Air's side
bezels are also thinner, creating the illusion that the display
is actually slightly larger than that of the iPad 4.

The iPad Air runs on Apple's improved A7 processor capable of
64-bit computing, whereas the iPad 4 uses the previous-generation
A6X chip. Chances are you won't notice this difference just yet,
but as developers create more 64-bit-optimized apps, the iPad Air
and other Apple products using this processor will seem more
smooth and efficient. Still, if you typically use your iPad for
browsing the Web, playing casual games, streaming Netflix and
checking your email, the A6X chip is more than capable.

This is where the differences end. The iPad Air and
fourth-generation iPad both feature a 9.7-inch
2,048x1,536-pixel-resolution Retina Display, a 5-megapixel main
camera and a 1.2-megapixel front camera.

If you're trying to save a few bucks and are looking to replace
your aging Apple tablet, the fourth-generation iPad has
everything you need. But if design really matters to you and you
use your tablet as your primary personal computer, you may
benefit more from the Air's sleeker design and speedier
internals.

The iPad 4 and iPad Mini with Retina Display cost the
same ($399). Which one should I buy?

The obvious question here is your preference in screen size. The
smaller iPad Mini with Retina features a 7.9-inch display,
compared with the iPad 4's 9.7-inch screen, which makes it more
portable. This, however, can also affect how content looks on
both screens, and your choice depends on how you most frequently
use the device. For example, if you want to use your iPad to
watch movies in bed or pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard for
productivity, you might want to go with the larger
model.Apple

The iPad Mini with Retina Display is lighter, more compact and
easier to hold in one hand. So if you frequently use your tablet
to play games or read news articles on the subway and need to
squeeze it in your purse, the Mini may be a more viable option.
To be precise, the iPad Mini with Retina Display is 0.71 pound
lighter than the iPad 4 (0.73 pound vs. 1.44 pounds).

Although smaller, the iPad Mini with Retina Display offers a
slightly better value since it uses Apple's 64-bit A7 processor.
It's a miniature version of the iPad Air in every sense of the
word — meaning it features the same angular lightweight design
and slim side bezels.

Another important factor to consider is storage space. Apple is
only offering a 16GB version of the iPad 4 and non-Retina iPad
Mini, so if you're hoping to grab a 32GB, 64GB or 128GB iPad,
you'll have to go with the Air or Retina Display Mini.

Should I buy the Retina Display iPad Mini ($399) or the
first-generation iPad Mini ($299)?

Price is the biggest part of this decision. The newer iPad Mini
comes with a higher-resolution display (2,048x1,536 pixels vs.
1,024x768 pixels) and a faster A7 64-bit processor, compared with
the previous-generation's A5 chip. This means that images and
video will look sharper and more detailed compared with what they
look like on the older model, and iOS will feel smoother thanks
to the A7 chip's processing power. The extra $100 is certainly
justifiable and very much worth it in this case.

If you're looking for a cheaper 7-inch tablet and don't want to
make the switch to Android, the iPad Mini without Retina will
still get the job done. It's also just as portable as the Retina
Display Mini, but although it's cheaper, the non-Retina iPad Mini
isn't a great value.

The iPad Mini had been considered to be behind the curve in the
overall tablet market before the Retina version was released. For
example, Android tablets such as the Nexus 7 (2013) offer a
faster quad-core processor and sharper screen for less than $300,
whereas Apple's tablet was still stuck on dual-core computing
until the second-generation Mini was released. Although more
expensive than its Android rivals, the iPad Mini with Retina was
essentially Apple's answer to the competition.

Should I get a Wi-Fi-only model or step it up to
LTE?

If you're looking for the cheapest iPad possible, stick with
Wi-Fi only. Adding LTE support will immediately tack on
$130 to your final price, and it's also likely to make your
monthly phone bill more expensive. The benefit, however, is that
you won't have to worry about constantly scouting out a Wi-Fi
connection. You'll be able to use your iPad on the bus, in the
park and anywhere else you get cell service.

How much storage should I get?

This is a bit trickier to answer, but like most of these
questions, it depends on how much you're willing to spend and how
you plan to use your iPad. For most users, the 16GB iPad is
entirely sufficient. If you plan to use your device for things
like checking email, playing casual games, reading the news, and
streaming video through Netflix or Hulu, the smallest storage
option is just fine.

You may need to bump up to 32GB if you're the type of person who
likes to save larger files on your tablet. For instance, if you
download the occasional movie or book and install
graphics-intensive apps or games from the App Store, you may
benefit from paying the extra $100 to double your storage
space.

You probably won't need the 64GB version unless you really plan
on filling your iPad with downloaded movies and TV episodes and
feel the need to install dozens of large apps. Don't opt for the
128GB iPad unless you plan on storing your entire HD movie
collection on your iPad.

What color iPad should I buy?

This is a purely aesthetic decision, but it's still a crucial
one. The choice largely depends on your personal preference,
although some may argue that a black screen is better for
consuming video. Since the brain tends to ignore the black border
around what you're watching, it can offer a more suitable viewing
experience — which is why HD TVs are usually
black. Black, however, does tend
to show fingerprints and smudges on the screen more
prominently.

Which retailer should I buy from?

You don't need to shop at an Apple store to buy an iPad, and
third-party retailers tend to offer compelling discounts every so
often. Both Walmart and Target are currently selling Apple's
lineup of iPads for the same price as the company's store, but
you can grab a free $30 Target gift card
when you buy the 16GB Wi-Fi only iPad Mini without Retina
Display. At the time of writing, Best Buy offers the most
intriguing discount. The electronics giant is cutting the prices
of different variations of the iPad Mini with Retina Display and
the iPad Air, which you can view
here. The discounts range between $20 and $60.

Daniel Goodman/Business
Insider

Which carrier should I go with if I buy an iPad with
LTE?

This depends on a variety of factors, but here's a general
breakdown of how the major carriers compare.

T-Mobile offers the 16GB iPad Air for $0 down
and 24 consecutive monthly payments of $26.25. You can also
choose to buy the iPad at its full retail price up front. The
case is similar with the Retina Display iPad Mini — you can opt
to pay $22.08 per month for 24 months or you can purchase the
16GB slate for $529.92 up front. Prices vary depending on how
much storage space you choose.

In terms of data plans, T-Mobile offers 500MB for $50 per month,
2.5GB for $60 per month and unlimited data for $70 per month.

Verizon
is selling the 16GB LTE iPad Air for $429.99 with a two-year
carrier contract and $629.99 off-contract. Similarly, the iPad
Mini with Retina Display starts at $329.99 on a two-year contract
and $529 off-contract.

With the carrier's Share Everything plan, you can choose data
capacities ranging from 4GB ($30) to 50GB ($335) per
month.

Sprint offers a few options for iPad buyers, but
its subsidized prices are a bit higher than Verizon's. The 16GB
iPad Air costs $529.99 with a two-year Sprint contract; the iPad
Mini with Retina Display starts at $429.99 and the 16GB
non-Retina iPad Mini sells for $199.99 on contract. Sprint also
offers the 128GB iPad 4 for $649.99 on a two-year contract.

The carrier offers a few options under its Tablet Only plan, with
choices ranging from $10 for 100MB per month to $49.99 for 6GB
per month.

Like Sprint, AT&T is also selling the 16GB
iPad Air for $529.99 on a two-year contract. The iPad Mini with
Retina Display and iPad 2 are both available for $429.99 on a two
year contract.

AT&T's shared data plans range from $30 for 4GB per month and
$335 for 50GB per month, which is very similar to Verizon's
pricing options.